MONOCYTE CHEMOTACTIC PROTEIN-1 IS RELEASED DURING LETHAL AND SUBLETHAL BACTEREMIA IN BABOONS

The chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) is a cytokine wit h chemotactic activity specific for mononuclear phagocytes. To investi gate the possible involvement of MCP-1 in the pathogenesis of sepsis, its course was studied in baboons challenged intravenously with a subl ethal or lethal dose of Escherichia coli. Levels of MCP-1 started to i ncrease in both groups of animals 2 h after injection of E. coli, reac hing peak levels 4 and 6 h after a sublethal (186 +/- 21 ng/mL) or a l ethal (213 +/- 24 ng/mL) dose, respectively. Levels of MCP-1 correlate d significantly with plasma levels of another chemokine, interleukin-8 (IL-8; r = .826, P < .001), suggesting that common stimuli mediate th e release of both cytokines in this model.